Prince Charming

Gretchen shares her thoughts on Slade's ring shopping and how this episode made her love him even more.

Hi Everyone!

Since I haven't gotten a chance to blog about the last two episodes I just wanted to say thank you all so such for the positive feedback on my Facebook/Twitter accounts about my Pussycat Doll Performance! It truly was such a great memory and something I will never forget. You only got to see a glimpse of that night as I had three different costume changes and performed on the bar, the stage, a swing, and the carousel horse! It was great to have all the ladies there supporting my big debut on my first Vegas Stage! I actually had so many of my dear friends, and family come out that weekend to support and celebrate my performance including Jeff’s daughter who came out all the way from Michigan to join in the fun! I feel so blessed to have so many great friends and family! That is really what life is all about.

My number one fan Slade is the best person on the earth and I am so grateful for his constant support, love, patience, and encouragement to go after my dreams! Every woman dreams to have that kind of partner in life, and I have been so blessed to have found my prince charming.

With that said this blog is going to be a lot about my situation with Slade because many of you are asking me questions about it. This episode definitely made me cry knowing that Slade loves me so much and wants to give me so much, but just can't at this time. Hearing him say that all he wants to do is make sure I know how much he loves me and that I mean more to him than just a girlfriend was so touching. Normally it's always the woman pushing or wanting the man to ask them to marry them and the men are hesitant. It is weird how reversed our roles are compared to the traditional way of doing things.
However, I love that Heather said to Slade that I wouldn't care what size ring he got me, because she can just see how much we love each other. That statement just goes to show that, even in the short amount of time that I have gotten to know her, she knows my true heart -- and that's a good friend if you ask me.

I've had the big diamonds, big houses, fancy cars, etc. Of course, I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy that lifestyle, but I have definitely learned that lifestyle isn't ultimately what make me happy. What makes me truly happy is that I have a man who loves and adores me, protects me, builds me up when I am down, is the calm in my storm, and makes me feel like the most important person in the world every second of the day. Our love is the kind of love I have dreamed of having since I was a little girl. It's the kind of love I have prayed for my whole life; a love that fulfilled me emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. God finally answered my prayers when he gave me Slade.

Now, I'm sure all your jaws dropped when Slade asked Gabe at Newport Jewelers if he could get a CZ stone until he could afford the real thing, but the truth is once I thought about it I realized it was very sweet and showed his vulnerability. He wants to get me a beautiful ring, but knows he just can't right now. That is hard on a man's ego no matter what way you slice it. I'm so proud of the fact that he is not just pretending to be someone he is not; it's a very brave thing to admit on national television. Slade is working so hard right now to get out of debt and working multiple jobs to do so. He is one of the hardest working men I have ever known, despite what the other woman think they know about his life and job situation.

Ultimately I had to laugh because I know his impatience got the best of him. He wanted a certain ring but he couldn't do that right then so he was trying to figure out how to get the ring he really wanted for me. One thing I can assure you about Slade is that he has too much pride too not to get me the real thing, and our jeweler obviously wouldn't allow him to do that anyways! However he also knows me well enough to know I won't care if it's a ten carat diamond ring or a one carat. Good news is you can always upgrade if and when your financial situation changes later! Kind-of like what my Dad did for my Mom on their 40th wedding anniversary!

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone for the kind comments about me making the right decision about not getting married until some things are worked out. It's a hard decision when you love someone so much, but right now it's the right decision for me. I have worked very hard to get back to the place I was before I got engaged to Jeff. I was financially self-sufficient and a very hard working business woman. I never want to lose sight of that again, because working and having my own thing is truly what I love to do. It makes me feel whole. I lost myself a little when I gave up my career to be with Jeff, so we could travel together and build a bi-coastal lifestyle.

Slade has always supported and encouraged me to continue to go after those dreams and has never asked me to give them up. My companies are thriving, I am getting to do everything I have ever wanted to do and accomplish in life, and I couldn't be happier.
The next stage will be adding a family to my life, and I don't believe you have to be married to start that. Look at Brad and Angelina six kids later and just now they are engaged! LOL!

I am very excited about the next stage of my life with Slade. He is going to make an amazing father to our children -- just like my father has been to me! Was it just me or did Slade and my father remind you of each other in last week's episode? Weird! My parents really do adore Slade and they are excited about the thought of little ones soon as well!

Speaking of kids! Holy Hell with Briana and Vicki's scene. I have to say I am sure proud of Briana for calling her mom out on some things. Bottom line is that sometimes parents need to be called out too.

Briana is not a 14 year kid being disrespectful to her mom, she is a grown married adult talking to her mom as a concerned daughter about multiple issues. I am sure it was not easy for Briana to say some of the things she did, but sometimes it takes someone close to you to make you realize something. Briana said a lot of things I have wanted to say to Vicki multiple times. Briana is dead-on that her mom always goes on the defense, deflects from herself, and tries to turn it around on the another person.

What I found the most interesting was when Briana basically called her mom out for emotionally cheating on Donn with Brooks. WHOA!!! When she said she saw things on her mom’s computer between the two of them, my mouth dropped to the floor! I was like "Oh boy this is going to get ugly." Vicki obviously was upset because she got up and whispered under her breath that she could not believe Brianna went there.

As you all can imagine I could have a whole hell of a lot to say here, however I refuse to do what these woman did to me and make accusations about things I do not know all the details about! It just continues to prove my point that I think she is a major hypocrite. I sincerely hope that Vicki can start to take a deeper look at herself after this episode and see that even her own daughter is pointing out the same things we are to her.
My talk with Heather was very heart-felt and it was great to see our relationship starting to grow as friends. I have really come to adore her and her honesty. She is a straight-forward girl with a great head on her shoulders and a great friend for good sound advice.

I think it was cool that Tamra got the Simon tattoo removed! It shows she is ready to move past that stage and get on to a new and happier chapter in her life. Sometimes we make mistakes in desperate and confusing times in our life. It sounds like the tattoo was one of the moments for her, and it was very cleansing to get that off her body, so she could truly move on with Eddie.

Terry is hilarious, and Tamra running to the bathroom was hysterical.
I love that Tamra walked Eddie right into his statement about buying her a ring! To see Eddie's face was classic! That's a sure way to get a man to put his money where his mouth is! I also understand Tamra's concern regarding the kids because it does always add a different dynamic, however after getting to know Eddie I don't have one doubt that he will be great with the kids and the transition will work out just fine!

In regards to the puppies and princesses party, I have decided that it is probably best to just "plead the fifth" on that one.

On a lighter note, we have been inundated with e-mails about the new pink collection! So here is the update! I was back in New York all last week meeting with buyers for the new collections, and I am excited to announce that I will be back on Shop NBC with my new collections this fall! I also got to see all the samples of the new pink collection coming out and I am sooo excited for you guys to see these pieces! They are gorgeous! They are coming very very soon so please be patient with us! Trust me it is worth the wait! The collection will include the pink satchel you saw on the show in the photoshoot I did, a wallet, an iPhone cover, iPad cover, passport holder, and a three-piece overnight luggage set. It's the perfect travel collection! To be contacted once the collection is in stock, sign up on our interest list by sending your email address to Info@shopgretchenchristine.com and put "pink collection" in the subject line, or visit my website at GretchenChristine.com for more info. Remember the pink color is significant because we are giving a percentage back to the Breast Cancer Charities of America!

Also I'm so excited to tell you guys about my first acting gig with Telemundo TV! Every Thursday you can check out Telemundo.com for the new series Mia Mundo that I am in. It's a new bilingual series that my fellow Bravo sister Jenni Pulos from Flipping Out is in as well! The cast and crew were amazing to work with and it was such a great learning experience for me. I was so honored that they wrote this role specifically for me and invited me to be a part of this great cast!

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook you know my schedule is very hectic right now with travel and work, but I always read all your messages, even if I can't always respond. I cannot say thank you all enough for the constant love and support you show me every week. It means more to me than you guys know!

RHOC Reunion GIFs: The Gloves Come Off

See Tamra and Vicki wonder who really is miserable as told by GIFs, and other crazy Reunion moments.

Hey RHOC fans. It's time for Part 2. Are you excited? Are you nervous? Do we need to get out the healing hands? No, you're good.

Then let's get started.

We begin by debating how Shannon can be so zen and so stressed all the time. There's not really an answer for that, but in order to help her feel more relaxed Andy did put nine oranges in the bowl! It's not lemons, but any citrus will help her calm down.

The next topic of discussion -- that infamous birthday party of almost one. Lizzie is still not pleased with Tamra's excuse for not coming to her birthday.

Tamra doesn't know what else Lizzie wants her to say. . .

Well, probably not blood, just an apology.

And I guess the gym membership doesn't hurt. . .

Lizzie also just wants Tamra to know that the whole "you're too old to have a baby" was just because she thought Tamra had already accomplished so much. Tamra's response -- you don't know anything about me so don't talk.

At that point, Tamra gets her "Let's go" face on. And Vicki sheds any layers of clothing that could hold her back. . .

Vicki wants to know why if Tamra's so happy "she looks so miserable"? And then she lays it on. . . "You’re supposed to be getting better and better and better, but -- guess what -- you get. . .

Watch the whole thing go down again.

Moving on. . .let's talk about that infamous game. What was that game called?

According to Tamra it was "f---." According to Lizzie it was "marry."

When that doesn't go anywhere, the conversation turns to Vicki and Tamra and how they can move on from that massive arguments. Lizzie interjects and Tamra was very receptive to her counsel. . .

And so Lizzie is left to cry (with Heather providing the tissues). Eventually Andy wraps things up, pointing out that it took nine seasons, but Vicki is now officially the voice of reason. Low fives for that!